Screening for perinatal mental health in pregnancy : evaluating digital technology in screening and management

Background: Access to health care is a social equity issue. Women of different backgrounds face many barriers to receiving appropriate health care. Undiagnosed or untreated mental illness can lead to social exclusion and decreased life opportunities. Furthermore, pregnancy is a high risk time for the development of mental illness and some women experience many additional social stressors. Appropriate routine mental health screening and treatment in pregnancy is needed and with the escalation of telehealth and digital health platforms understanding how women use digital health in this context remains a major gap in knowledge. Aim: To evaluate digital health screening for mental health in women of different backgrounds and assess equity in access and outcomes. Method: Testing and evaluating acceptability, feasibility, access and equity when using digital screening for mental health in routine pregnancy care. This will assess women's experiences, their families and that of their health providers through surveys, qualitative research and interrogation of medical records